Honda Civic RS vs Rolls-Royce Phantom

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda Civic RS in South Africa

Honda Civic RS

1.5T RS CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 725,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 178 kW 🔧 240 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Phantom in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.29 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Phantom
⛽ Fuel Economy Civic RS
🛡 Safety Phantom
📦 Practicality Phantom
🔑 Ownership Civic RS

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Civic RS Phantom
Maximum Power 178 kW 420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque 240 Nm 900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size 1498 cc 6749 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.1 km/l 6.29 km/l
Ground Clearance 134 mm 136 mm
Boot / Load Bay 495 l 530 l
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1350 kg 2560 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 3 4 years; regional conditions apply

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Civic RS and Phantom are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Phantom +33 pts
Efficiency Civic RS +34 pts
Safety Phantom +7 pts
Practicality Phantom +7 pts
Ownership Civic RS +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Civic RS

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Phantom

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Civic RS

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Phantom

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Civic RS Phantom
Model Introduced Year 2022 2018
Generation Based on 11th generation platform Eighth-generation Phantom in standard-wheelbase Series II form
Facelift History Introduced with latest Civic generation The eighth-generation Phantom was presented globally in 2017, introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its light-touch Series II evolution in 2022
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Four-door luxury saloon
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Grey -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Sedan Full-size super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type Sedan Internal-combustion passenger car
Tare Mass Kg 1350 kg -
Spec Civic RS Phantom
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive Front-engine, rear-wheel drive with all-wheel steering
LSD Available Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No lockable differential
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable No
Gearbox CVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 2.81:1
Number of Gears Not Applicable 8
Transmission Type Continuously Variable Transmission 8-speed ZF automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable -
Drivetrain 4x2 Rear-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type CVT Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout 4x2 Rear-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No lockable differential
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 8
Gear Shift Type Paddle Shifters Satellite Aided automatic gear selection

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Phantom leads by 4 points

Both Civic RS and Phantom are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 71 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 91% confidence
71
#1 Winner

Phantom

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 99
Practicality 67
Ownership 44
Leads by 4 points
67
#2

Civic RS

95% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 63
Efficiency 63
Safety 92
Practicality 60
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Phantom +33 Efficiency Civic RS +34 Safety Phantom +7 Practicality Phantom +7 Ownership Civic RS +7

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 44/100

Civic RS

Performance 63/100
Efficiency 63/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Phantom wins with 71 pts vs 67 pts for Civic RS

In structured scoring, Phantom emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Civic RS may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Phantom edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Civic RS 63 vs Phantom 29. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Civic RS 92, Phantom 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Civic RS 51, Phantom 44. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Civic RS 60, Phantom 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Civic RS 63, Phantom 96. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Phantom edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Phantom scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Civic RS and Phantom in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Civic RS scores 63 vs 96.

Efficiency: Civic RS scores 63 vs 29.

Safety: Civic RS scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: Civic RS scores 60 vs 67.

Ownership: Civic RS scores 51 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Phantom the advantage in this comparison.